ensign en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈɛn.sɪn/
- (US) audio
- /ˈɛn.saɪn/
- /ˈɛn.sən/
- [ˈɛn.sn̩]
Etymology
From Middle English ensigne, from Old French enseigne, from Latin īnsignia, nominative plural of īnsigne, meaning marked, distinguished. Doublet of insignia.
Meanings
-
A badge of office, rank, or power.
The Ensigns of our Power about we bear; / And every Land pays Tribute to the Fair.
1690, Edmund Waller, The Maid’s Tragedy, Alter’d by Mr Waller, page 8:
-
The lowest grade of commissioned officer in the United States Navy, junior to a lieutenant junior grade.
The skipper Mr. Cooke had hired at Far Harbor was a God-fearing man with a luke warm interest in his new billet and employer, and had only been prevailed upon to take charge of the yacht after the offer of an emolument equal to half a year's sea pay of an ensign in the navy.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter X, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
-
A flag or banner carried by military units; a standard or color/colour.
Hang up your ensigns, let your drums be still,
1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]:
-
The principal flag or banner flown by a ship (usually at the stern) to indicate nationality.
But Alcibiades swiftly ran up the Athenian ensign on his flagship and bore down on that part of the Peloponnesian fleet which held the advantage and was pursuing the Athenians.
1960 [a. 120], Ian Scott-Kilvert, “Life of Alcibiades”, in The Rise and Fall of Athens: Nine Greek Lives, translation of original by Plutarch:
-
Any prominent flag or banner.
Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced.
1667, John Milton, “(please specify the page number)”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
- (historical) A junior commissioned officer in the 18th and 19th centuries whose duty was to carry the unit's ensign.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ensigns | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
ship of the line ensign first class · ensignship · ensigncy · red ensign · revenue ensign · ensignhood · ensign fly · civil ensign · ship of the line ensign · ship of the line ensign second class · ensign scale · ship-of-the-line ensign second class · merchant ensign · ship-of-the-line ensign first class · ensign first class · ship-of-the-line ensign
Synonyms
second lieutenant · first NATO commissioned officer grade above OF-0 trainee officer · badge · coronet · ancient
Translations (72)
fa درفشدار (banner) · et lipp (banner) · mk заставник (military officer) · el λάβαρο (banner) · el σημαιοφόρος (military officer) · it stendardo (banner) · it alfiere (military officer) · mh bōļeak (banner) · it cadetto (military officer) · no fenrik (military officer) · sl praporščak (military officer) · ru зна́мя (banner) · la insigne (a badge of office, rank, or power) · da fenrik (military officer) · bg флаг (banner) · mi haki (banner) · fr aspirant (military officer) · kk прапорщик (military officer) · et kraad (a badge of office, rank, or power) · sv fänrik (military officer) · el σημαία (banner) · fa پرچمدار (banner) · es enseña (banner) · bg знаме (banner) · pl chorąży (military officer) · et lipnik (military officer) · eo ŝipflago (banner) · de Fähnrich (military officer) · uz leytenant (military officer) · pt insígnia (banner) · sco ensenyie (banner) · ca guardiamarina (military officer) · nl vaandrig (military officer) · sl zastávnik (military officer) · cmn 少尉 (military officer) · it baluardo (banner) · sl zastávnica (military officer) · pt tenente de corveta (military officer) · sv fana (banner) · dsb chórgojnik (military officer) · pt alferes (military officer) · et seisus (a badge of office, rank, or power) · ru пра́порщик (military officer) · sh krmena zastava (banner) · et auaste (a badge of office, rank, or power) · pl bandera (banner) · bg значка (a badge of office, rank, or power) · fr pavillon (banner) · es pabellón (banner) · es alférez (military officer) · mk знаме (banner) · ja 少慰 (military officer) · sh zastavnica (military officer) · sh zastavnik (military officer) · fi aliluutnantti (military officer) · mk значка (a badge of office, rank, or power) · fi lippu (banner) · af vaandrig (military officer) · et plagu (banner) · no fane (banner) · de Fahne (banner) · nl vaandel (banner) · fa ناوبان دو (military officer) · it guardiamarina (military officer) · ko 소위 (military officer) · sl praporščakinja (military officer) · hu zászlós (military officer) · az gizir (military officer) · et kutse (a badge of office, rank, or power) · it insegna (banner) · ca alferes (military officer) · it vessillo (banner)